Tips for first time latex tube install

Equipment
21

Talc!

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22

Some people just want to watch the world burn.

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23

Water!

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24

Why the switch from tubeless?

26

not switching, either selling these wheels or using them on Wed worlds.

For everybody using talc and care, this is what I did without talc and it was super super easy:

  • spray water on rim and tire
  • use a lever to get the first bead over the rim (too tight to do it using thumbs only)
  • add some air to tube, insert tube into tire
  • making sure tube is inside rim/tire, carefully start to push 2nd bead in
  • at the end it didn’t want to go on with thumbs, so I sprayed a little more water, used a TireJack at the valve stem area to get some leverage, and finished by using the rolling method to ensure tube was in tire and cleared the rim

GP5000 25c and Roval Rapide wheels.

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27

I just install them like butyl tubes but am more careful in ensuring I don’t see any pink on the side that was just mounted.

No faffing about and never had a bad install this way.

I use Vitoria latex tubes; they’re already a little powdery, maybe that’s why.

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28

Well, I also haven’t used a tire lever in maybe 5 years, so I could be fortunate in my tyre and wheel combinations. I just ensure the bead is as close to the center as possible, but I don’t doubt others do that to.

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29

Yup a little powdery and I swiped that powder off.

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30

The talc IMO has the benefit of keeping the latex tube from sticking to the tire over time. Latex tubes can practically glue themselves to the tire. The talc also provides some slipperiness to help with getting the tire bead over the rim.

31

Also these are the original Roval Rapide CLX and tube only.

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32

Me too. There isn’t really a need to use talc or cornstarch for the install. It is supposed to help the tube settle into the right spot for whatever that means. I take it to mean less chaffing and therefore less chance of a little slice or hole while inflating.

i think talc caught on way back either because some came without or riders just thought more is better.

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33

I just blow them up a little and put them in, i never use tyre levers maybe that helps. Think I got two slow punctures last year in 5500m riding. I pump them to what the silca thing says, 87 and 89 psi I think.

I use the silca extenders and aero rubber thing and nut maybe that helps to keep the valve in place.

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34

the lever was only to save my thumbs on the first bead, while the latex tube was over on the bench.

I’m going to install the aero rubber speed guard thingy this afternoon.

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35

Only last night I took some latex tubes out of my wheels and installed TPU tubes. Lighter, tougher, and don’t bleed air… all allegedly!

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36

48 hours and pressure dropped from 90 to 70psi. Both tires. Silca latex tubes with valve extenders. Hmm, I was expecting bigger air loss. Normal or not?

37

That seems in the normal range, maybe on the low side. If you inflate with a CO2 cartridge it will go down much faster - the one time I did that it was completely flat overnight.
I did hear something about newer tubes not leaking as much, and I think I have noticed this, but I don’t really track it much.

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38

I’ve actually put some sealant in Vittoria tubes and it really helped with the air loss :man_shrugging:t2:

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39

Normal. I also use Silva.

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40

I’m going to put sealant in if I don’t sell them. Thinking 20ml Orange Seal like I was doing with butyl’s tubes. Opinions?

41

If you put latex sealant into a latex tube, what keeps it from getting glued together if the tire sits and goes flat? Do you have to always keep it inflated?